7?. W. Shufeldt — Birds in Washington Zoological Gardens 45



or thirty Ducks and Teals in superb plumage, the species represented

being the Mandarin Teal, three species of American Teal, and Wood

Ducks. On a side hill, not far off, large cages contain the California

Condors, various rare Hawks, and Vultures. Their quarters are large

and commodious, and the various inmates are in fine condition. In

another part of the park one will find a superb specimen of the South

American Condor, while close at hand another immense cage contains

numerous species of Eagles, Vultures, and their allies. Outside, on

the top of this cage, it is no unusual thing to see a dozen Turkey

Buzzards perching, some of them roosting there all night. They are

attracted by the raw beef fed to the captives in the cage.


Of all the Raptorial birds in the park the great favourite was the

late famous Harpy Eagle, of which I obtained a photograph through

the courtesy of Mr. N. Hollister, the Superintendent, who kindly

allowed me to make prints from the negative in the park collection.

“ The record for this Harpy Eagle is a matter of pride for the keepers

in the bird department, for this rare bird of prey had been kept in good

health for nearly eighteen years. He was received May 19, 1899, as

a gift from the Governor of the State of Amazonas, Brazil, through

Commander C. C. Todd, United States Navy. It is believed that the

species has never before been kept in any gardens for a similar period.”

After its demise the specimen passed to the National Museum, and apart

from its skull, which was left in the skin, I have compared the skeleton

of this bird with that of the big Monkey-eating Eagle of the Philippines.

The account has recently been published by the Bureau of Science in

Manila.


In various cages in the main bird house we find a very excellent

collection of a great variety of species, some of which are rarely seen

in captivity. During the year 1918 there were in the collection, all

told, over 700 individuals, representing a great many species. At

the further end of the bird house there is a great cage, in the centre of

which a fine pool of clear water is placed. There we see Storks, Ibises,

Tree Ducks, Pelicans, Flamingoes, and other aquatic species. Just

outside another large cage is seen to contain some five or six specimens

of the famous Kea Parrot. These were received from the New Zealand

Government through Mr. Ben Wilson, of the Department of Tourist



